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Stock-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2015
Mar. 30, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock-based compensation expense $ 13,546us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 14,867us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Restricted stock units [Member]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock-based compensation expense 14,504us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember		 14,876us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Change in stock-based compensation capitalized in inventory [Member]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock-based compensation expense (958)us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= spwr_ChangeinstockbasedcompensationcapitalizedininventoryMember		 (9)us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= spwr_ChangeinstockbasedcompensationcapitalizedininventoryMember
Cost of revenue [Member] | Americas [Member]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock-based compensation expense 922us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AmericasMember		 994us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AmericasMember
Cost of revenue [Member] | EMEA [Member]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock-based compensation expense 388us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_EMEAMember		 540us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_EMEAMember
Cost of revenue [Member] | APAC [Member]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock-based compensation expense 1,256us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AsiaPacificMember		 2,022us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AsiaPacificMember
Research and development [Member]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock-based compensation expense 2,273us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember		 1,797us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember
Selling, general and administrative [Member]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Stock-based compensation expense $ 8,707us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember		 $ 9,514us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember